Neal Mongold, President
Neal is an architect with Joy Squared Design, a firm specializing in the design of affordable housing and community based projects. Neal has been an Arlington resident since 1995 – and bought his home here after taking a first time homebuyer class with HCA! He has been active on the HCA board for many years. He now serves as President and sits on HCA’s Finance and Real Estate committees. Neal is also an avid cyclist.
Laura Wiener, Vice President
Laura is an urban planner with a focus on housing and transportation. Laura spent many years as a planner in Arlington’s Planning and Community Development Department as well as working for the City of Watertown Planning Department. She returned to the HCA Board in 2022 after serving as a Board Member earlier in the organization’s history. Laura is currently a Town Meeting Member and serves on HCA’s Real Estate Committee.
Jillian Standish, Treasurer
Jillian is a Senior Vice President and Chief Equity Underwriter at Merchant Capital Corp, where she is responsible for credit, underwriting, and risk management for Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity acquisitions and fund offerings. Jillian had previous roles with Ernst & Young’s Tax Credit Investment Advisory Services group, the MA Department of Housing and Community Development’s (now Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities) Divisions of Rental Assistance and Housing Development, and Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership (now Metro Housing Boston). Jillian started her career as the child advocate at a family homeless shelter in East Boston. She resides in Arlington Heights with her family. Jillian sits on HCA’s Finance Committee.
Deirdre Westcott, Clerk
Deirdre has lived in housing provided by HCA since March 2008, when she and her husband, an employee of a non-profit organization, were having difficulty finding an affordable, de-leaded apartment. Prior to being a stay-at-home mom of two children, she was a financial aid administrator at Boston University. They are grateful to have the opportunity to live in Arlington and are enjoying its many wonderful parks and events. Deirdre is pleased to be able to serve on HCA’s Board and support its mission of providing safe and affordable housing. Deirdre sits on HCA’s Walk for Affordable Housing Committee.
Elena Arrendol
Elena is a mother of four. She was born in the Dominican Republic and migrated to the United States in 1975. She is retired, but held various positions with the Cambridge Public Schools, supporting students. In the early 1990s, she moved with her multi-generational family into Arlington. After many years her family faced medical and financial challenges which caused them to lose their home. Thankfully, they were able to find refuge in Arlington’s public housing, protecting them from homelessness.
The experience of losing their home is a key driver for Elena to work on continuous self-improvement. Her own struggles and perseverance have also instilled in her a deep sense of empathy and a desire to pay forward the support she received. Elena is also a certified Zumba instructor and sits on HCA’s Real Estate Committee.
Danielle Chery
Danielle is a human resources professional in the health care field, with prior professional experience as a Health Equity Senior Program Coordinator for a health insurance company that served Medicaid/Medicare patients of diverse backgrounds and medical needs. Her work has focused on identifying gaps in services, policies, and practices to improve systems in health care for underserved populations. Danielle seeks to apply these skills to help ensure HCA’s work is carried out using an equity lens. Danielle and her daughter have been residents of Arlington and of HCA’s affordable housing for over 12 years. Danielle serves on HCA’s DEI Committee.
Chris Claflin
Chris is a Vice President of Asset Management at Merchants Capital, where he is responsible for managing Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity investments from closing through disposition. Prior to Merchants, Chris had asset management and acquisitions roles at other national tax credit equity syndicators. Chris serves on HCA’s Finance Committee. He lives in Woburn with his wife, daughter, and two dogs.
Ken Garden
Ken is a professor of Religion at Tufts University and has lived in a two-family house in East Arlington with his wife and two children since 2008. He is concerned by the housing crisis in Massachusetts and the impact it is having on fellow Arlingtonians and young faculty at Tufts. He is a member of the HCA Real Estate Committee and has also been involved with the Sustainable Arlington Committee in the past.
Michael Mango
Mike moved to Arlington as a teenager with his mother. As an adult, it was impossible for him to afford even a small apartment in town or nearby. This shaped his life, ranging from his relationships to political beliefs. In 2024, Mike’s 6-year wait to receive a housing voucher came to an end. And the only apartment he could find where he could use his voucher was with HCA. He soon realized this was the organization whose housing he wanted to live in, and with whom he wanted to volunteer, to repay both HCA and the larger affordable housing community for helping him to find a stable apartment. Mike serves on HCA’s Tenant Council Steering Committee and contributes his knowledge based on his life experience to the HCA board.
Thomas Nee
Tom has been a resident of Arlington since 1995. He has over 20 years of affordable housing experience where he currently works for Caritas Communities Inc. as the Senior Operations Director. Tom has experience working on projects involving DHCD, HUD, LIHTC, HOME, HIF, HSF, and NSC funding. Tom has his CPM (Certified Property Manager) designation through the Institute for Real Estate Management and is a member of CHAPA. He believes affordable housing can be a core foundation for future success and opportunities. Tom and his wife Maureen are the proud parents of three young sons and they continue to discover the unique opportunities that make Arlington special. Tom sits on HCA’s Real Estate and Finance Committees.
John Oliver 
John is a Branch Manager at Cambridge Savings Bank (CSB) in Arlington Center and has worked with CSB for nearly 10 years. He is an active member of the Arlington Community, holding the roles of Chair of the Board for Arlington Center for the Arts, as well as Treasurer for the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. With a passion for equitable banking and grassroots initiatives, John seeks opportunities to make housing available to all community members. John and his wife Lauren live with their young daughter, Elena.
Makeelia Parker
Makeelia is a Registered Behavioral Therapist who moved to Arlington in 2022 with her family. She earned her Associate’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Boston. Makeelia has served as HCA’s Board Vice President and participated in the DEI Committee. She serves on the HCA board in order to share insights from her experience that may help make a better future for others.
Sherika Williamson
Sherika Williamson is a single mother who has lived in an HCA apartment for 7 years. She works as an assistant to the principal at a language-based learning disability school in Wellesley. Passionate about fostering an inclusive & equitable environment, Sherika is also an active member of that school’s DEIJ Committee (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice). Through trust, openness and collaboration she helps promote diversity & create a supportive community for all students. At HCA, Sherika helped to initiate the Tenant Council.